Reaper's Salvation: A Last Riders Trilogy Jamie Begley (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📖

“My wife could have been asked at any time before our arrival on your island for a lie detector test, and she would have happily agreed … after our lawyer assured us of the examiner’s credentials. Ginny will not be taking one here without our lawyer present to review the questions being asked. When we return to the States, a test can be arranged once those demands have been met.”

“Years have been lost in the search for the artifact. I refuse to waste more valuable time. As owner of Sherguevil Island and where Mrs. James committed the crime, this matter needs to be settled before Mrs. James will be allowed to leave.”

“By whose authority?”

“I am the sole authority for this island, which puts Evangeline under my jurisdiction.”

“Are you placing me under arrest for a crime you say I committed when I was three years old? How does that even make sense?”

Ginny’s calmness had him wanting to cheer her on. She was easily holding her own, refusing to let his threats get to her.

“Of course not. I’m merely not approving you to leave until you submit to the lie detector test. If you fail, that means you are withholding knowledge of the crime of stealing the artifact. I have been desperately searching for years, and withholding any information is an obstruction of justice on my island. Mrs. James, I suggest you and your husband deliberate on taking the test and give me an answer by morning. Meanwhile, please accept my invitation to a private dinner party tonight. Your mother will be there. She has been awaiting your arrival.”

Reaper wanted to tell him to shove his invitation but let Ginny make the decision.

“My father won’t be there?” Ginny asked.

“My dear, I hate to be the one tasked of informing you, but your father was delegated to an emergency response team three days after your arrival.”

“You’re just now telling me?” Ginny sent Agent Collins a castigating glare.

Allerton drew her gaze back to him. “We didn’t anticipate there would be a need to disappoint you. Soleil and I, as well as Jasper, assumed he would be gone only a few days leaving enough time to make it back before you were out of isolation. Regrettably, late last night, Jasper informed us because of the outbreak of Legionnaires from the contaminated water supply, the workers have been ill, thus hampering the efforts to repair the water system.

“I can see your disappointment, which your parents share. Your father promises to fly back as soon as everything is under control, and he’s asked me in his absence to provide the emotional support for Soleil. Of course, I gladly agreed.

Ginny deadpanned, “I’m relieved my supposed theft didn’t affect your friendship.”

“Our friendship has spanned over twenty-five years. I don’t believe in holding parents accountable for their children’s actions. Your parents have been living on the Sherguevil Island since your mother’s retirement from teaching, which has deepened our ties. Naturally, she is a bundle of nerves at meeting you. It was my suggestion to have a small dinner party to put both of you at ease.

“Soleil is a dear friend of mine, and I’ve had to watch her grieve your loss and your sister’s estrangement for many years. I’m looking forward to witnessing the reunion. So, until tonight, then? Shall we say seven? That should give you ample time to go back to the bungalow and change.”

Reaper wanted to call bullshit. Ginny’s father, Jasper, wasn’t the only water engineer on Allerton’s payroll. Even then, there was no reason to make the mother-daughter reunion public. No, either Allerton or Ginny’s parents didn’t want them to have a private meeting.

“Don’t worry. If you didn’t include an appropriate change of dress in your luggage, I’ll have my personal assistant send over a selection of clothes for you both to wear from my private boutique. Agent Collins, feel free to join us.”

“Thank-you. I would love to attend. I’m bored with my own company, and my men can enjoy the night off,” Agent Collins accepted, then stood and motioned for Ginny to get up.

Taking Ginny’s arm when she rose from the chair, Reaper guided her out of the room, then led her to the elevator to push the button, not waiting for Agent Collins to catch up. Wanting to shove him out the elevator when he managed to make it before the doors closed, Reaper restrained himself. He needed to play nice until he was given no choice, for Ginny’s sake. The agent was as dirty as a blackhead pimple. He didn’t know if the other agents were, but he wasn’t going to pop the pimple until he had no choice. He wanted the poison contained to where he could see it, not spread out where one of the newbies could make a mistake that could get themselves or Ginny killed.

“It was nice of Mr. Allerton to have a party for your mother and you,” Collins remarked conversationally as they stepped out of the elevator.

“Very nice.”

Reaper gritted his teeth and gave Ginny a searching look to see if she was serious.

“Can you explain to me exactly the role the FBI is supposed to play here?” Reaper asked bluntly the moment they stepped outside. “From where I’m standing, it seems the only reason you’re here is to facilitate Allerton throwing Ginny under a fucking bus.”

“Gavin, the FBI are only trying to clear up a situation that I could be responsible for. I’m thankful for their help. I want the misunderstanding resolved as much as Mr. Allerton does.”

“Mrs. James is correct. The US is determined to assist in having the artifact returned to Mr. Allerton. Your wife is instrumental to the process of accomplishing that objective. The country of origin has a policy of not taking any foreign aid. Any headway Mr. Allerton can accomplish is a foot in the right direction in establishing a trusting relationship with them, which benefits the US by initiating conversations previously denied.”

“How is she supposed to help when